Administrative Services Committee discusses tax collection agreement

December 12, 2013

MAYVILLE - All Chautauqua County legislative members of the Administrative Services Committee were present on Monday night for the last meeting of the year.

The agenda was short and included an authorization to extend joint tax collection agreements with the cities of Dunkirk and Jamestown.

"We're ahead of the normal cycle in trying to get this done before the start of the fiscal year," said Steve Abdella, acting county executive. "This will get the ball rolling, especially if there is any tweaking that needs to be done."

Essentially, the only difference in the new agreement is the length of time, Abdella noted.

"Was it not a 2-year term in the past?" asked Bob Scudder, R-Fredonia.

"I thought that we may as well put it at 3 years," Abdella said. "It's surprising how quickly time goes."

After extensive negotiations between 2009-10, an agreement was formed to make tax collection and enforcement in the cities the same as it is within the county's other municipalities.

"At this time, we're working fine with each other," said Jim Caflisch, real property tax director for Chautauqua County.

A resolution to authorize the purchase of surplus or secondhand supplies and equipment (such as a used vehicle) without competitive bidding from the federal government, the state of New York or any other political subdivision was also discussed.

"We don't see this as something that would happen very often, but it has come up a few times in the past," Abdella said. "It has to be within appropriations."

Lastly, the reappointment of Russell Payne of Frewsburg to the Chautauqua County Ethics Board was approved.

All agenda items will be presented for final approval at the existing legislature's last meeting on Dec. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Gerace Office Building in Mayville.